This bill proposes the establishment of a County Tenant Legal Assistance Program in each county in New Jersey, aimed at providing legal representation for low-income families involved in landlord-tenant disputes. To fund this program, the bill mandates that $300 from each residential mortgage execution sale fee collected by the county sheriff be allocated to a newly created County Tenant Legal Assistance Program Fund. This fund will be used exclusively for the operation of the legal assistance program, ensuring that the funds are not utilized for budgetary reductions by the counties. Additionally, the bill allows counties to create a trust fund account for these revenues, which will help secure funding beyond the typical one-year budget cycle.

Furthermore, the bill outlines the responsibilities of county governing bodies in establishing the program, including hiring personnel who will be considered county employees. It also requires counties that implement the program to launch a public awareness campaign to inform the community about the program and the services offered by Legal Services of New Jersey and its affiliates. If a county opts not to establish the program, it must still promote awareness of the services provided by Legal Services of New Jersey. Overall, this legislation aims to enhance access to legal assistance for vulnerable populations facing housing issues while ensuring a dedicated funding source for the program.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 22A:4-8.1